tdiu Dont Call Us, Love, Varo

[Guest Schreldia]

After 30 years out of Service, finally got 70% 3 years ago (they back dated 8 years only altho SS began in 1976). Now thru HADIT forums we found out about TDIU and now filed in May 2010. Have had 2 letters 'sorry about the delay' and now nothing for a while. I called 800- number & got the recorded messages but I mut be doing something wrong because I cant find how to call St Louis VARO for status. I know I saw that number posted once on HADIT but searched today with no results! Anybody know the number?

I am the wife writing in my Vet husband's behalf (with his approval) who is blind since 1977. He was practically abandoned after medical discharge because family, etc, could not 'handle' him. After many years, a VIST cordinator in St Louis started guiding him, beginning with schools, Mo School for the blind, and many courses with the VA. Meanwhile, his medications finally leveled off and he was a 'real' person again with very few episodes. He had filed for SC in 1975, but was denied because despite med records, VA said it never happened. He was so despondent he never persued it. I met & married this wonderful man in 2002; a few months later he told me about his VA claim process & denial. I started the ball rolling and it took 8 years to finally get 70%. His SC is not for being blind, but for a serious personality disorder which is medicated under control now. He was given Valium over & over in the service when he had episodes, just to make him quiet. This was all recorded though.

There is no way any employer would take him on. His early on employment record was erratic & short lived, proof submitted from Social Sec records; VA psych records & letted submitted; VA ER records from the past 8 years for episodes, personal letters submitted, all material from the first claim is there. Whaddaya think?

[Guest Schreldia]

Thanks Tbird & am sure persistence will pay off eventually! "I am sorry, but due to heavy call load, we are unable to take your call. Please call back".....So we have the re-dial job today! WOW

Please be patient with my brain. I need to get K into a secure environment with enough money to pay for everything he needs done for him. I have beginning Alzheimers and my biggest fear is he will be left without help again. If I can pay off house & everything, my daughter & her family can help check on him after work each day. Your support and information has been a breath of air for me.

[Sapper]

Call the 800 number as Tbird has suggested, although I always push 1-1-0. That usually gets me through to a person. Although 1-2-3 might also work :) Good luck!

To talk to a person at the VA 800 number I think what it do is push 1, 2, 3 and I think that will get you through to a person.

[Omg-Sue]

It's been almost 2 months since I last posted (for vet-husband). Took him for C&P exams about 3 weeks ago at Fayetteville Ar. The physical was done by a PA who verified

stuff on the computer & listened to his heart. Thats all; 10 mins. Then on to the mental exam (same Doc who saw him back in '06). He remembered K; by the time I moved my truck & came back in. Doc was all done and annoyed. K said Doc was irritated because VA should have done 100% last time, especially due to his letter to them back then. He fumed about wasting everyones time as well as the Vet, expense, etc. He said this evaluation would be STRONG enough this time they will HAVE to give him the 100%.

We have been optomistic, & 800 # says the C&P results are received and all waiting for a decision. DAV called in as well & said we should get a 'letter' in 2 weeks.

Please tell me the VA is trying to wind up as many claims as possible before Jan 01-2011. I have been off-line about a week and I see lots of Vets here who have encouraging news, as well as success. We can only hope it happens before Dec 25!

On another tac, we are in Mo right now & moving back to Texas. Here on Hadit, it was suggested not to change address before the claim is all finished (because when they move it, seems to start all over again from the bottom of their list. We are keeping the Mo house anyhow, so mail is not a problem. The VARO in Waco, Tx was super-nice. We entered the door for a VA home loan & had the eligibility form in hand within 10 minutes. Quite unlike St Louis!

Of all the VA staff we have encountered over the past few months Waco have been extremely nice. Ok, VARO STL, read this HADIT, get kicking on our claim & I will give yall an attaboy too.

[hawkfire27]

If he is 70% disabled with a psych disorder, and you can prove he has not been able to be gainfully employed for a long period of time, you shouldn't find it too difficult to get him 100% SC'ed P&T due to the 100% rating schedule for mental disorders, which states that the veteran not being able to get or maintain gainful employment is a reason for a 100% rating.

In the end this is how my husband got his 100%P&T for PTSD. He was unable to hold down a job because his PTSD prevented him for having normal relationships with staff and customers.

The key to my husband case though was that he was found by the VA to be ineligible for rehabilitation through the VA Vocational Rehab, which basically decided his case for him.

Good luck.

After 30 years out of Service, finally got 70% 3 years ago (they back dated 8 years only altho SS began in 1976). Now thru HADIT forums we found out about TDIU and now filed in May 2010. Have had 2 letters 'sorry about the delay' and now nothing for a while. I called 800- number & got the recorded messages but I mut be doing something wrong because I cant find how to call St Louis VARO for status. I know I saw that number posted once on HADIT but searched today with no results! Anybody know the number?

I am the wife writing in my Vet husband's behalf (with his approval) who is blind since 1977. He was practically abandoned after medical discharge because family, etc, could not 'handle' him. After many years, a VIST cordinator in St Louis started guiding him, beginning with schools, Mo School for the blind, and many courses with the VA. Meanwhile, his medications finally leveled off and he was a 'real' person again with very few episodes. He had filed for SC in 1975, but was denied because despite med records, VA said it never happened. He was so despondent he never persued it. I met & married this wonderful man in 2002; a few months later he told me about his VA claim process & denial. I started the ball rolling and it took 8 years to finally get 70%. His SC is not for being blind, but for a serious personality disorder which is medicated under control now. He was given Valium over & over in the service when he had episodes, just to make him quiet. This was all recorded though.

There is no way any employer would take him on. His early on employment record was erratic & short lived, proof submitted from Social Sec records; VA psych records & letted submitted; VA ER records from the past 8 years for episodes, personal letters submitted, all material from the first claim is there. Whaddaya think?

[Tbird]

I am just wondering if Omg-Sue might be able to pursue this as a hardship case, which may speed things up. Hardship due to her Alzheimer's and trying to get everything set up for her husband before her mind goes. Omg-Sue it must be a scary spot for you to be in, I am so sorry for what you are going through. Does anyone else think hardship is worth pursuing for her?

[carlie]

omg-sue - are you the same person as Schreldia ?